Spoke-socket



IIITIET IIIIII'EJN M. s. WELLER.

SPOKE SOCKET.

No. 323,990. Patented Aug. 11, 1885. v

NiTnD STATES ATENT Erica.

M. SCOTT WELLER, OF GHARLESTOWN, VEST VIRGINIA.-

SPOKESOCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,990, dated August 11, 1885.

Application filed November 24, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, M. SooT'r WELLER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Oharlestown, in the county of Jefferson and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Spoke-Socket and Felly-Olai'np, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention is a combined and substitutive spoke-socket and felly-clamp, and embraces the following novel features: A thimble-socket, binding the shoulders and foot of the spoke-tenon, and having an annular shoulder-rest around the tenon hole at the top of its thimble-bone, also said annular rest forming the base of the counter-curving arms of the felly-clamp, and finally a substitutive socket-cap, interchangeably closing said tenon-hole, and having a spur-rib raised upon its concave surface in a sharp edged countercurve lengthwise the base of the claspingcurve of the folly-clamp, all of which and their purposes are hereinafter more fully described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which like letters designate identical parts of my device in the different figures, respectively.

Figure 1 is a top and under view of the fellyclamp and spoke socket, showing the curving arms of the clamp, and the tenon-hole and shoulderrest at the top of the socket-bone. Fig. 2 presents similar views of the combined clamp and socket, showing the tenon-hole closed by the interchangeable and rib-crested socket-cap. Fig. 3 is a side view of said device, showing its relative position in use, with the outer end of the sectional portion of a spoke and its clamped felly with tirein cross-section. Fig. 4 is a view similar to the last, showing in longitudinal section said device in usage with the substitutive' socket-cap and a plug in the place of a discarded spoke-tenon; and Fig. 5 is the sectional portion of a wheel, showing upon the felly ends of three representative spokes the usual and substitutive appliance of said device.

The letterA represents the said socket, which is made of malleable metal, of suitable dimensions, and in form as shown. At the top of the thimble or bone of said socket there is made a circular aperture, 12, of smaller diameter than the socket-bone, so as to form an an nular rest, 0, for the shoulders of the inserted tenon (Z of a spoke, E, for the purpose of firmly binding in place the tencn end of the spoke and of preventing the tencn from pressing outward and wearing against the tire or ring 9 of the wheel. The spoke is also out near its tenon end, and at a depth and length respectively equal to the thickness and depth of the thimble shell and bone, to add further steadiness and binding power to the socket-thimble around the base of the spoke-tenon thereby adding resistive power to said tenon against sudden pressure or accidental strain between the spokes. Again, in order to give protection against any lateral strain or wear of said tencn across its felly, the felly-clamp h is furnished, which consists of a pair of arms counter-curving and tapering upward, as shown, from said annular rest a, which forms in common the top of the thimble socket and the base of said clamps, thereby making a very steady and unitive appliance. Said clamping-arms are made of malleable material, and without the curvature when first made, so that they can be easily placed in position underneath the felly D, and pressed or beaten into a corresponding and clasping curve, enibracing its spoke-tenon mortise, as shown.

The substitutive socket-cap F consists of a metallic disk-plate, fittingly made to interchangeably cover and fill the tenon-hole or aperture 1) on an even line with the shoulderrest 0 of the socket A, and has a spur-rib, a, raised upon its top surface lengthwise the clasping-curve ot' the clamp h-the crest of said rib rising with a sharp-edged counterarching curve, as shown, equal in length to the diameter of the top of said cap, the rim of which slightly projects beyond the top edge of the tenon-hole b, to allow the cap to become suitably fixed in its proper position in said aperture.

The application of said disk-cap is as follows: Should the spoke-tenon (1 become broken within its telly-mortise by any sudden blow or strain, one of the clamp-arms is straightened sufficiently to allow the spoke to be sprung aside and the cap F to be introduced into the tencn-hole b, where, upon the return of the spoke-socket and clamp into place, the sharp-edge of said rib it cuts its way into the foot of the broken portion of the tenon, or, it said portion is Withdrawn or discarded, into a plug, (1, substituted in its place, and holds the spoke end in its normal position the same as though it had remained whole."

Thus my device, as herein described and shown, is a very steadfast and resistive agent against displacement or fracture of spoketenons, and, where any such accidental daina go beyond its resistive power to prevent does occur, becomes a very convenient and continuousl effective appliance by means of its said readily adj ustive and substitutive socket-cap; therefore hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- A thimble-socket, A, having around the spoke-tenon hole I), at the top of the thimblebone, an annular shoulder-rest, c, said annnlar rest also forming the base of the countercurving' arms of the united telly-clamp h, and also furnished with the interchangeably substitutive socket-cap F, having a sharp'edg'ed spur-rib, n, rising from its top surface, substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

I n testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

M. SCOTT l/VE LLE It.

Witnesses:

ABRAM STUMP, W. A. WELLER. 

